Rating: 
Summary: TurboTax Activation
Review: Regarding Turbo Tax. I have used tax software for many years starting with Parson's Personal Tax Edge, which I thought was an excellent product, and then moving to Turbo Tax (after Intuit bought out Parsons). The issue with activation of a license does not bother me as much as the undisclosed installation of spyware.Software piracy is a major problem and companies have a right to protect their investment in development. As an Information Systems professional for over 30 years, I am acutely aware of these issues. Even with the amount of piracy going on, software vendors still provide fairly good products at relative inexpensive prices. Installing software beyond the product, I feel is wrong. Software vendors should not assume that everyone that uses a product is going to make 100 copies and sell or give them to their friends. Having a user register a product upon installation is reasonable. If no Internet connection is available, have the product active for 30 days or so until the vendor can send an activation key is also reasonable. However, let's not punish the great majority of honest people. Instead, go after those who would break the law and make the penalties severe. Intuit should do a better job explaining up front the [software] they are installing and provide adequate support when it causes users problems. Better, yet, take it out and do something less obtrusive. Systems are complicated enough and I like to only have software on my system that I use. I don't download junk from the Internet and I keep my system up to date by installing OS patches, keeping a backup of files, and staying current on virus protection. As for me, I plan to try Tax Cut this time.
Rating: 
Summary: Yet another bad review with some history
Review: I started using TT in 1998 by using a friend's disk (stole it). It worked great. Turbo Tax didn't cost too much so starting in 1999 I started buying it. They got me as a customer because they had a good product at a good price and because I was able to try it once free before I bought it. Nothing I hate worse than buying something you can't return only to find out it is junk. The 2002 printer thing made me sware to never use TT again. Thing is they fixed it for 2003 so should we reward their fix this year or punish them for what they did last year?
Rating:
Summary: 2003 - No Better than 2002!
Review: Turbo Tax was good last year. But now I have CG (capital gains) and find TurboTax Deluxe doesn't even collect the information. I got so angry so started clicking all over the map and got some message that if I had bought a different version of TurboTax, it would have collected CG information. I gave up and tried to print my completed return (w/o CG)so I could transfer the information to paper forms that do ask about CG, only to find Turbo Tax won't print!!!!!! My printer and PC are new. There is nothing wrong with them.
Rating:
Summary: Faithful Turbotax customer abandons ship
Review: I have been a Turbotax customer since 1988. Since there are substantial advantages (a familiar interface, easy year-to-year transfers, convenient viewing of historical data, etc.) to using the same product year after year, I've never considered another product, although I believe that any of the top-rated tax software products would probably work fine for me. However, the new product activation feature in Turbotax 2002 Deluxe has motiviated me to switch to one of their competitors (I won't name my choice since I don't want this review to be viewed as a promotion of another product). I keep Turbotax and my tax returns on my computer for seven years. Unfortunately, I seldom keep the same computer for that lengthy period and I do not want the hassle of trying to contact Intuit for a new activation code every time I change computers (usually about every two years). Past experience with their technical support line supports my judgement that obtaining a new code will not be a painless task. It is sad that Intuit has lost a loyal customer in their effort to squeeze a few more dollars from their customer base. I was considering purchase of Intuit's Quicken software but am having second thoughts since it is probably only a matter of time until that product also requires a product activation code. The cost of learning new software and later abandoning it is just too costly.
Rating:
Summary: Software doesnt work properly
Review: Please wait while we find an agent to assist you...
You have been connected to D. Trance.
D. Trance: Hello Joe how may I help you today?
Ted Gibson: It's Ted
Ted Gibson: I'm getting an error with one step update
Ted Gibson: and when downloading tax info
D. Trance: Yes, Ted. I am sorry there was a connectivity error.
Ted Gibson: "The server returned an invalid or unrecognized response Error 67186552
Ted Gibson: how do you fix it?
D. Trance: Okay Ted, in an effort to provide you with an accurate solution to your specific issue, I need to refer to my resources. This may take a few minutes. Are you available to wait?
Ted Gibson: im not going anywhere. Can't finish my taxes until this is resolved
D. Trance: Thank you for staying online.
Ted Gibson: ok
D. Trance: Ted can you please tell me which form are you trying to update?
Ted Gibson: one click update or partner information. none of it works
Ted Gibson: yet. i obviously have a connection since we are chatting
Ted Gibson: what does the error code mean?
D. Trance: Ted, I am sorry to inform that all updates is expected to work from 28 Jan. 2004.
Ted Gibson: i cant even download my tax info from my broker or employer. does that have until the 28th to work also?
D. Trance: Actually Ted, any info. that needs update from the Turbo Tax server is having the issue as if now.
Ted Gibson: After all the trouble last year and now this? Intuit product is going downhill fast. Who do I talk about about a refund for the State product I purchased on;ine? I'm taking this back and buying another product.
D. Trance: Ted, to resolve the issue you will need to contact our Sales and Service department. Please logon to www.support.turbotax.com and then login to chat choosing Ordering and Order status as the main category. You will then need to complete the form and then you will be connected to a Sales and Service Agent who will give you the appropriate resolution to the issue.
Ted Gibson: Which issue? The connection problems or my refund?
D. Trance: Refund.
Rating:
Summary: Stay away!
Review: Turbo Tax has indeed become one of the nightmare products of the year. Their tech support is, well, it isn't. There simply isn't any. No phone number, very weak knowledge base, no email to send to - all they appear interested in is selling lots of their product. They have Chat support, which, so far has never responded to me. Here is, verbatim, the cheery messges you will see while you sit wondering what to do this tax year:
"Please wait while we find an agent to assist you...
All agents are currently busy. Please stand by.
An agent will be with you in a moment. Thank you for your patience.
The next available Agent will be with you in a moment.
All agents are currently busy. Please stand by.
An agent will be with you in a moment. Thank you for your patience.
The next available Agent will be with you in a moment...
Please wait while we find an agent to assist you...
All agents are currently busy. Please stand by.
An agent will be with you in a moment. Thank you for your patience.
The next available Agent will be with you in a moment.
All agents are currently busy. Please stand by.
An agent will be with you in a moment. Thank you for your patience.
The next available Agent will be with you in a moment.
All agents are currently busy. Please stand by.
Currently experiencing network delays, one moment please....
Your session has ended. You may now close this window."
I never have reached a support person. The above message is all I get. Don't waste your time and money!! I cannot even get a copy of last years return which is now critical as TurboTax appears never to have sent in my State return. You are far better off filing a return by hand or with using a competing product.
Rating: 
Summary: Intuit removes TTax spyware/junkware
Review: "In a victory for consumers everywhere, Intuit recently announced that it will drop the product activation that it initiated in its Turbo Tax product this year. The activation was much like the one used in Windows XP, which scans that user's computer for hardware components and ties the software to that computer. This prevents users from installing the software on more than one computer, and/or lending a copy to a friend or neighbor. Intuit initiated the activation to try to squelch illegal copying and borrowing. The activation plan, however, did not go as smoothly as the Windows XP activation. Intuit used a program called SafeCast to enable the product activation. When some users saw the SafeCast program being installed without any notice from Intuit, they assumed that SafeCast was a spyware program. Consumers also had a myriad of installation problems with the activation. Many were outraged. At least one purchaser filed suit against Intuit. Customer backlash to the activation plan is said to be the main reason why Intuit will pull the plug on its product activation scheme in next year's version of TurboTax. This is a victory for consumers everywhere proving that the voice of consumers is heard by large corporations, and that the end-users can make a difference in the way they are treated."
Rating:
Summary: Tax software sinks to a new low
Review: Intuit has failed to make the necessary repairs in its Turbo Tax software for the 2003 tax year. This years version will not load into many computers due to major glitches. Tech support is even worse than previous years. There is no way to access tech support by phone and the online vesion is only available 9-5 on weekdays. They obviously don't want to deal with their software problems. Turbo Tax had a good reputation which has been ruined by Intuit and their lack of support. Sorry all you loyal users but it is time to drop out of this failing products support base. Intuit refuses to deal with its continuing string of problems and is only milking the product until it will collapse.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible Support and Spyware
Review: I used to be a diehard TT user never again even if it's free. First the spyware, I did my taxes and reformatted my computer. Second their site is the most user unfriendly site ever. Just make them so mad they won't come back. A negative 5 stars from me.
Rating:
Summary: Disaster!
Review: Unfortunately, there is not a rating choice of ZERO (or even negative) stars, so take my 1-Star rating with a ton of salt.
Like so many others, I had a terrible time getting my licensed copy of TT2002 Deluxe activated. I finally succeded, no help from Intuit. Now, nearly a year later, I tried to go back into TT to review my tax situation and do some what-iffing. Turns out I can no longer get to TT2002. It seems something called C-Dilla got messed up and I am expected to divine the entrails and repair what came to me as an already defective product. C-Dilla, it turns out, is Spyware and was quarantined by my anti-spyware product. How was I to know that this piece of spyware was planted in my machine by Intuit. That's the sort of thing you expect of hackers and spammers, not of your financial software company! I was a TT adherent for many years. I even recommended TT to others. I would not now recommend this product to my worst enemy. When you try and get support, their support page is incomprehensible - they rather expect you to be technically expert, a programmer! I am neither. And, I do not relish the challenge of staying at home (where it is installed) so I can talk on the phone with their support? group at $20.00 a pop, just to fix the DEFECTS IN THEIR PRODUCT!
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